 Riverside Public Utilities has opened a new waterwise garden designed to educate visitors about the beauty and water-saving benefits of planting drought tolerant and native California plant species.
The “Kathleen M. Gonzales Memorial Waterwise Garden”, is located adjacent to the Utilities’ new Customer Resource Center located at 3025 Madison Street in Casa Blanca. It is named for Kathleen Gonzales, a former Assistant City Attorney for the City of Riverside, who passed away in March, 2004 and was active in many causes that improved the life of residents in Riverside including the Casa Blanca area.
The garden features over 60 plant species that were selected for their contrast in colors, textures, and shapes, and are drought tolerant native species or “California Friendly” plants that are resistant to drought. Native plants or “friendly” plants can rely on rainfall most of the year for their watering needs.
 The site is one of several water wise demonstration areas within the City of Riverside, which includes the waterless grass demonstration areas outside the Utilities Plaza customer service location at 3460 Orange Street, and Western Municipal Water District’s “Landscapes Southern California Style” water conservation demonstration garden, located at 450 E. Alessandro Blvd.
“Outdoor water use is the number one use of our high quality, potable drinking water supplies,” said Riverside Public Utilities General Manager David H. Wright.
“Finding ways to reduce landscape water use is vital in maintaining our supplies of this precious natural resource for future generations.”
By planting native or California Friendly plants and using efficient irrigation, customers can cut their outdoor water use by as much as fifty percent, while still growing a pleasant and enjoyable garden, Wright said.
The Kathleen M. Gonzales Memorial Waterwise Garden is open to the public Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Sundays.
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